Two-operator two-hand control



July 25, 1933. E DAV|$ 1,919,776

TWO-OPERATOR TWO-HAND CONTROL Filed Feb. 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVVE/VTORj of work, or to initially closethe press under Patented July 25,

ERNEST DAVIS, or SYRACUSE, NEW, YORK,

assIeNoR rio "rm:- PROSPERITY comm INQ, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, CORPORATION .OFNEW YORK Two-O ERATO wee ie, CONTROL Application filed February 18,1931 Serial "110.316,?85.

This invention relates to pressing ma chines such as garment or laundry pressesand particularly to control means for the larger slze presslng'machines which require two or more operators.

In large pressing machines which are opcrated by two operators,.control means are often provided with four operating means,

so that both operators will be required to use both hands in order to close the press.

This safety precaution prevents one operator from closing the press whilethe other operator may have one or'b oth hands between the pressing elements. With such control devices in the past it has been possible to 1 close the press in a single step toa predetermined degree ofpressure; It has not been possible however to close the press under light pressure for certain classes of work or under heavy pressure for other classes light pressure and'later apply heavy pressure after a steaming or air, blowing opera-' tion. The principal object of this invention is to provide control means which will re quire tlic use of both hands of all the operators, such control means being operable to :1 1 t1 e )re 's under li ht ressure or unv a v use 1 I s h p 1 the yoke 12 and a link 28 is pivotally conder heavy pressure, ina single step, or to close the press under light pressure and then apply heavy pressure as asecond operating step. A further object of the nvention s. to "provide control means including at' least 5 five operator operated devices, a combination of four of which maybe opera'tedto close the pressunder light pressure,'and a different combination offour' of whichmay be operated to close the press under he'avy'pressure. Other ob]ects and advantagesrof the invention-will appear and willbe-pointed'out .as the description proceeds.

corresponding- 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pressing machine to which my invention isapplied.-

Figure 2-is a fragmentary view of the pressin'gmachine' shown in Figure 1. V Figure 3 1s a schematic showing, mostly in sectiolnof the control'mechanismembodying- -my invention. a

This invention may be used with a pressing machine requiring more than twooperators but is here illustrated as applied to a two operator press. TA pressing head 11 is carried by a'yoke 12 which is pivotally mounted at 13 on upstanding back leg of a pressing machine'franie 14. The yoke 12 is movable about the pivotal connection 13 to move the pressing head 11 into andout of 'issu'pported by a neck 17 which is mounted on the pressing machine frame 14.

A'fluid motor'20 ispivotally connected at 21 withthe pressing machine frame 14 and the piston rod 22, of'the fluid motor 20, is ivotally connected at 24 with the yoke 12. peration: of the fluid motor 20, a manner later to bedescribed, will move the yoke 12 to close the press under lightpressure.

'Alink 25 is pivotally connected at 26 with nected at its one end at 29 with the link 25, and at its other end at 30 with a link 32. The links '25 and 28 constitute a toggle which is moved into straightened position, to close the 'press',by pull link 34; The pull link 34 is piston rod 44,.of the fluid motor 42, is pivotally connectedat with the forward end of the link 34. Operation of the fluid motor 42 in a manner later tolbe described, will move the cam follower 38 downwardly in' the cam "slot '40 and operate the pull'link 34 to straighten the toggle to close the press under .heavy pressure. The mechanism thus far described is of the conventional type and forms no-part ofthe present invention,

contact with'a fiXe'd'pressing element or buck 16 to close and open the press. The buck 16 6 ing 61, the motion of thepush'button being The control mechanism, as shown in Figure and a normally open exhaust valve 110. Fur- 3, includes operator operated devices such as/ther description of these valves or their oppush buttons 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55. The push button 51 operates the valves in a valve castransmitted through a bell crank 62 and rocker arm 63 to a valve stem 64 which, extends through the end of the valve casing 61. T he '/valve stem 64 is formed on a normally open exhaust valve which is connected by a spacer rod 66 with a normally closed intake valve 67. A spring 68 holds the valves 65 and 67 in normal position. A spring 69 holds the bell crank 62 and push button 51 .in normal position. Depression of the push button 51 will move the bell crank 62 and rocker arm 63 so that the rocker. arm 63 will move the valve stem 64 to open the intake valve 67 and close the exhaust valve 65 in the valve casing 61. The push button 52 transmits motion through, a bell crank 70 and rocker arm 71 to operate an exhaust valve 7 2 which is located in a valve casing 7 3. This operating mechanism is similar to the mechanism operated by the push button 51 and a spring 75, corresponding to the spring 69. holds the bell crank 70 and push button 52 in normal position; The valve casing 7 3 contains only one valve and no spring is necessary to hold this valve in normal position.

The push button 53 operates against an arm which is rigidly secured to a rock shaft 82. Arms 84 and 85, which are rigidly stem of an exhaust valve 94 which is mounted in a valve casing 96. Depression of the push button 53 will move the arm 80 to rotate the rock shaft 82 sufliciently to move. the arms 84 and 85 and their respective rocker arms 86 and 87 sufliciently to close the exhaust valves 90 and 94, respectively. The push button 54 operates the valves in a valve casing 98.. The valves in this valve casing 98 and the motion transmitting means between the valve casing 98 and the push button 54 are identical in construction and operation with the valves and motion, transmitting connections previously described for the valve casing 61 and push button 51. Further description of these parts seems unnecessary. The intake and exhaust valves in the valve casing'98 are designated by the'reference characters 100 and are operated by the push button 55 are identical with the valves and motion transmittingmeans previously described for valve casing.

61 and push button 51. The valve casing contains a normally closed intake valve 108 crating mechanism is unnecessary.

The valve casing 61, 73, 92, 96, 98 and 105 are provided with diaphragm chambers 111, 112, 113, 114, and 116, respectively. The diaphragm chamber 111 contains a diaphragm 118, and a plunger 119 which extends through one end of the diaphragm chamber 111 adjacent the lower end of the rocker arm 63. \Vhen pressure is applied behind the diaphragm 118 the plunger 119 will be operated against the rocker arm 63 to move the rocker arm 63 into position to operate the valves in the valve casing 61, or to hold the rocker arm 63 locked in such operated posi tion. The other diaphragm chambers 112, 113, 114, 115 and 116 are provided with corresponding diaphragms and plungers for locking their respective rocker arms in operatedposition.

7 in a manner later to'be described.

The fluid motor 42 includes a cylinder 131 containing a piston 132 which is rigidly mounted on the piston rod 44. A port opening 134 is provided in the wall of the cylinder 131 at a point near one end of the stroke of the piston 132 so that the piston 132 will uncover the port opening 134 when the presslng elements are together under heavy pressure. The port opening 134 communicates with a conduit 136 which is connected with the valve mechanism in a manner later to be described.

A valve casing 140 contains an exhaust valve 142 which is normally held in closed position by a spring 143. A valve stem 144 formed on the exhaust valve 142 extends through the end of the valve casing 140. An

operating arm 145 is pivotally mounted at 146 on the valve casing 140 and the upper end of the operating arm 145 may be moved into contact with the valve stem 144 to open the exhaust valve 142. A valve casing 150 contains an exhaust valve 152 which is identical in construction and mode of operation with the exhaust valve 142 in the valve cas- -ing 140. 1 A connecting arm 155 is secured to the operating arm 145 and to a corresponding operating arm 157 which is mounted on the valve casing 150. A release handle 160 is rigidly secured to the connecting arm 155 and movement of the release handle 160 will open both of the exhaust valves 142 and 152.

closed no air can enter the system. I Opera'- tion of the push button 51 will open the intake valve 67 and close the exhaust valve 65; l Working fluid may thenpass through the fluid supply line 161', around theopenintake valve 67, into a pipe 163 which connects with the valve casing 61 at a point between the valves 65 and 67. .The pipe 163.connects with the valve casing 105and if the push but;

ton 55 isoperated at the same timeas the; pushbutton 51 the intake valve 108 willbe'.

open and air-from. thepipe 16 3 may flow around the open intake valve 108 and into-a pipe 165 which connects with the valve casing 105 at a point between the valves 108 and 110. 1 The pipe 165 connects the valve casing'105 with the valve casing 92 but a; branch pipe 167 connects the pipe 165 with the fluid motor 20. From the above description it will be apparent that operation of the 7 push buttons 51 and'i55 establishes communiprovided so that it is necessary to also oper-w I ate the push buttons 52 and 53. A pipe 170 connects the pipe 163 with the valvecasing 73 and unless the puslrbutton 52 is operated to close the valve 72 working fluid from the pipe 163 will be free to escape through the. valve casingu73 andopenexhaust Valve 63 1 thus preventing suflicient pressure from being supplied ,to the fluid motor 20 to operate 7 the press. Operation of the push button 53 is necessary in order to close the exhaust valve90 in the valve casing 92 and thus pre vent working fluid in the pipe-165. from escaping through the valve casingv 92and-open' exhaust valve 90.

Operation of the push buttons51, 52, and

55 will thereforesupply air under pressure to the fluid motor 20 to movethe piston 122' a therein and bring thepressingelements to--' gether under light pressure, as previously described. When the pressing elements come in contact, or aresubstantially in contact,

the piston 122 will uncover the port opening 124 and air will flow through this port opening 124 to the conduit 126 I which is connected by a pipe 175 Withpipes 17 6 and 177. The pipe 176. supplies-air-to the diaphragm chamber 116 and the pipe 177 isprovided with Y a branch pipe 179whichsupplies airto the diaphragm chamber 113. Acheck valve 180' a is provided at one end of the pipe- 177 and.

permits air to flow in the direotionof the arrow but prevents air from flowing in the other direction. A pipe 182 connects the check valve 180 with a pipe 184 which leads "94 in order to tofthe diaphragm samba 111'. A branch *pipe -186:connects the pipe 184 with the 122 uncovers the port opening 124 and air issupplied to thediaphragm chambers 111, 112', l13vand l16,'-as above described, the valves; in the valve casings 61, '73, 92 and 105 will be locked in operated position and the press will remain closed under light pres- 1 sure.

With the press closed under light pressure one operator may apply final heavy pressure by depressing the push buttons 53 and 54; The operation of the push button 54 will open thevalve 100 in the valve'casing 98 and air from the pipe 163 will flowthrough' a pipe 185', which connects the pipe 163 with the valve casing 98, around the-open intake valve 100 and into a pipe'187 which connects with the valve casing -9 8 at'a point between the valves-100 and 102 "The pipe 187 is connected at its other end with the valve casing 96 and a branch pipe 189-connects the pipe 187 erated, as above described, airunder pressure willbe supplied throughfthe branchpi'pe 189 to the fluid motor 42 to operate the piston 132 therein and apply finalheavy pressure to the pressing elements through the actuating mechanism previously described. The piston 132 will have moved down in the cylinder 131 during the closing of the press under influence of-the fluid motor 20 but the air supplied to the fluidmo'tor 42' will cause the ply air'to. the diaphragm chambers 114 and 115 as above described, the VillVQS in the valve casings 96 and 98 will be l'ockedin operated positi'on" and the press will remain closed under heavy pressure. lVhcn the press is open the operators may control the operating mechanismto closethe press under heavy pressure ina single operating'step by depressingthe push buttons 51, 52. 53 and 54. ()peration of the push button-51 is necessary to supplyair .to the pipe 163 as in the case of light pressure operation and operation of the push button 52 is necessary in order to close the exhaust valve 72 and prevent air in the pipe 163 from escaping through the branch pipe 170, Valve casing 73, and past 0 diaphragmlchamber 112. When the piston Working fluld, such asair, issupplied to, the valve casing 61 througha fluid supply-- line 161. c As long as the intake valve 67 is;

the open exhaust valve 72, Operation of the push button 54 will permit air to flow from the pipe 163, through the pipe 185, around the open intake valve 100, through the pipe 187, and branch pipe 189 to the fluid motor 42. Operation of the push button 53 will preher 114 to lock the valve in the valve casing 96 in operated position, The pipe 190 is con-- vent air in the pipe 187 from escaping through the valve casing 96 and past the open exhaust 190 to the diaphragm chamber 115 to lock the valves in the valvecasing 98 in operated position. Air will also flow from the pipe 190 through, the pipe 192 to the diaphragm chamnected by a pipe 194 with a check valve 195 which permits air to flow in the direction indicated by the arrow but prevents the flow of air in the opposite direction. Thus air may flow from the pipe 194 through the check valve 195 and through a pipe 198 which connects with the pipes 182 and 184. The pipe 184 connects directly with the diaphragm chamber 111, and through the branch pipe 186 with the diaphragm chamber 112 so that air opening 134 therefore, the valves in the valve. casings 61, 73. 96 and '98 will be'locked infrom the pipe 190 may pass through the pipe 194, check valve 195, pipe 198, and pipe 184 and branch pipe 186 to the diaphragm chambers 111 and 112.130 lock the valves in the valve casings 61, and 73 in operated position.

When the piston 132 uncovers the port operated position and the press will remain closed under heavy pressure. I The press may be opened from light pressure position or fromheavy pressure position by operating the releaseqhandle 160 1:0-

open the exhaust valves 142 'and,,152. The

valve casing 140 is connected by a pipe 199 with the pipe 186 andthe valve casing 150 is connected by a pipe 200 with the pipe 192. Since the pipes 186 and 192 are in communication, by connections previously described, with all of the diaphragm chambers, the opening of the exhaust valves 142 and 152 will permitair to exhaust from all of the diaphragm: chambers and thus release any of the valves which areheld locked in operated position. The'port openings 124 .and 134 in the cylinders .121 and 131, rc-' spectively, are of small diameter so that air cannot flow through these port openings to the diaphragm chambers as fast as it will exhaust through the open conduits exhaust valves 142 and 152.

From the foregoing description it will be and open ther apparent that other control means may be operated to apply final heavy pressure, and that the press can he closed from open position to heavy pressure in a single operating step by operating a group of four push buttons which includes certain of the push buttons used when closing the press underlight pressure. The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment but changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit-0f the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

-1. In a pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other; actuating means for the movable pressing ele ment including motor means for closing the press under light and under heavy pressure; a power feed line; a first pair of operatoroperated control devices connected to the motor meansto control the supply of power theretot-o close the press under light pressurera second pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the motor means to control the supply of power thereto to close the press under heavy pressure; and a third pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the feed line and to the first and second pairs of control devices to control the supply'of power thereto, whereby operation of the first and the third pairs of the control devices is required to close the press under light pressure and operation of the second and the third pairs of control devices is renected to the heavy pressure motor means to control the supply of power thereto; and a third pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the feed line and to the first and second pairs of control devices to control the supply of power thereto.

3. In a pressing machine in combination cooperativepressing elcments, one of which is movable with respect to the other; actuating means for the movable pressing element includingmotor means for closing the press under light and under heavy pressure; a power feed line; a first pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the motor means to control the supply of power thereto to close the press under light pressure; a

second pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the motorineans to control the supply of power thereto to close the press under heavy pressure; and a third pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the feed line and to the first and second pair of control devices to control the supply of power thereto. locking means associated vth each control device of the first and third pairs and operable to hold the same in operative position; means connected to the locking means to operate the locking means upon closing of the press under light pressure; and operator-operatedmeans for restoring the locking means to normal position.

4. In a pressing machine in combination cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable with respect to the other; actuating means for the movable pressing element including motor mcans for closing the press under light and under heavy pressure; a power feed line; a first pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the motor means to control the supply of power thereto to close the press under light pressure; a second pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the motor means to control the supply of power thereto to close the press under heavy pressure; and a third pair of operator-operated control devices connected to the feed line and to the first and second pair of control devices to control the supply of power thereto, locking means associated with each control device and operable to hold the same in operated position; means connected to the locking means to operate, the locking means associated with the first and third pairs of control devices upon closing of the press under light pressure and to operate the locking means associated with the second pair of control devices upon closing of the press under heavy pressure; and operator-operated means for restoring the locking means to normal position.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

